ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: Fire Item No: PH3
Prepared by: Joshua Sino Cruz, Management Analyst Meeting Date: June 23, 2026 Approved by:
Gerard Washington, Fire Chief
John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Consent Calendar SUBJECT: COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT 2025 WEED ABATEMENT CHARGES RECOMMENDATION:
1.Open, conduct, and close a public hearing to receive testimony regarding the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Report of Proceedings and an Account of Costs for Fiscal Year 2025/26 delinquent weed abatement charges.
2.Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026- , approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2025/26, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Public Safety and Fiscal Responsibility PRIOR ACTION: On June 9, 2026, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-103, declaring its intent to set a Public Hearing for collection of delinquent 2025 weed abatement charges; and set June 23, 2026, as the date of the public hearing to levy assessments on the 2026 property tax roll for collection of delinquent 2025 weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
On June 11, 2024, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-93, approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2023/24, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges (Vote: 5-0).
On May 28, 2024, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-68, declaring its intent to set a Public Hearing for collection of delinquent weed abatement charges; and set June 11, 2024, as the date of the public hearing to levy assessments on the 2024 property tax roll for collection of delinquent 2023 weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
A comprehensive list of prior actions is included as Exhibit 4.
STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: Vista Municipal Code (VMC) Chapter 8.60, Weed and Rubbish Abatement Procedures, authorizes the City of Vista to declare overgrown weeds and brush a public nuisance if they constitute a fire hazard to buildings or other property. As required by the VMC, notices to clear premises that were deemed nuisances were sent by regular mail addressed to the property owner or person in charge and control of the property at the address shown on the most recently available assessment roll. A total of 1,602 parcels were identified in the first wave of review by Fire Prevention staff. Of those, 597 of the parcels fell within City jurisdiction, and the remaining parcels fell within the jurisdiction of the Vista Fire AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Opened, conduced and closed the public hearing. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-119.
Vote: 4-0 (O'Donnell absent)
MEETING DATE: June 23, 2026 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT 2025 WEED ABATEMENT CHARGES Protection District. Notices were sent to owners in April 2025, with follow-up inspections beginning June 2025.
Most parcels were cleared by the owners or person(s) in charge. The remaining two parcels were cleared in December 2025 by a contractor hired by the City. In March 2026, invoices for the contractor’s work and the administrative fees were sent to the property owners. Parcels with an outstanding balance were posted at the Civic Center Council Chambers in accordance with applicable requirements. The parcels and amounts to be collected are listed in Exhibits 2 and 3.
The Fiscal Year 2025/26 Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs (Exhibit 2) must be approved by the City Council and filed with the County Assessor by August 10, 2026, to appear on the next tax bill as a lien.
Weed abatement charges are based on the contractor’s costs of labor, equipment and materials. In addition, an administrative fee is charged to recover staff costs associated with this program and is only assessed to those property owners who do not clear their property.
Staff recommends the assessment of unpaid charges to be placed on the Fiscal Year 2026/27 property tax roll.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total amount to be recovered via the tax roll is $5,840. Costs recovered will be deposited into the Weed and Lot Clearing Fee account (0010034.435160), which is a General Fund account.
Revenue collected will cover expenses incurred by the Weed Abatement Program.
EXHIBITS:
1.City Council Resolution No. 2026- , approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2025/26, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges.
2.Fiscal Year 2025/26 Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs
3.Summary of Special Assessment – Weed Abatement
4.Prior City Council Actions
06/23/2026 PH3 2 of 7
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF
VISTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND CONFIRMING A REPORT AND
ACCOUNT FOR ABATEMENT OF WEEDS, SHRUBS, DEAD TREES, AND WASTE MATTER FOR FISCALY YEAR 2025/26, AND ORDERING THE
ASSESSMENT OF UNPAID CHARGES
The City Council of the City of Vista does resolve as follows:
1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares the following:
A. Vista Municipal Code Chapter 8.60 provides that all weeds, dry grasses, dead shrubs, dead trees, rubbish, or any material growing upon private property are deemed to be a public nuisance and may be abated by the City of Vista (“City”) at the property owner’s expense if, after receipt of notice, the property owner fails to abate the public nuisance.
B. Section 8.60.090 authorizes the City, after receipt of weed abatement costs and a public hearing thereon, to impose liens on the properties for the cost of the abatement that are delinquent.
C. On June 9, 2026, the required Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs (Fiscal Year 2025/26) with respect to the abatement of such items constituting a public nuisance was filed with the City Clerk of the City of Vista.
D. Notices in proper form were duly served as required by Chapter 8.60, with respect to all the parcels contained in Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs, and no appeals as to any affected parcel has been filed and provided for in Section 8.60.60 of the Vista Municipal Code.
E. The public nuisance formerly existing upon said parcels have not been duly abated and the City has incurred costs in accomplishing such abatement.
F. The required Report of Proceedings and an Account of Costs incurred, which is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, has been duly posted and noticed and the hearing on such proceedings and costs duly noticed, called, held and conducted on June 23, 2026, pursuant to Chapter 8.60, and an opportunity afforded each owner of land or other interested person whose parcel was affected by such report to present a written or oral protest or objection to such report and account at said hearing.
G. The City Council of the City of Vista considered any and all protests and objections to the report.
H. The City Council of the City of Vista, after such hearing duly noticed, held, and conducted, finds, and declares that said Report of Proceedings and Accounts of Costs is correct and should be approved and confirmed in all respects, and the amounts contained therein should be assessed to and shall become liens upon the respective parcels of land as they are shown on the last available assessment roll.
The City desires to hold a public hearing to consider the imposition of liens on those properties that have been abated.
06/23/2026 PH3 3 of 7
EXHIBIT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA
PAGE 2
00029213 7EXH1 Resolution-2255422
2. Action.
A. The City Council hereby confirms and approves the 2025/26 Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, in all respects.
B. The City Council of the City of Vista does hereby determine that the weeds, grasses, dead shrubs, and waste matter upon said premises have existed at all times herein and all times have constituted a public nuisance requiring abatement as provided in said Chapter 8.60.
C. It is ordered that the amounts and costs of abatement as set forth in the Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs, opposite each respective parcel where abatement was required, are hereby assessed to, and made liens upon the respective lots, premises, or parcels referred to therein and such respective amounts to and are made liens upon each respectable parcel of land as such are shown upon the last available roll of San Diego County.
3. D. The City Clerk is ordered to file a certified copy of this Resolution, together with the Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs attached thereto, with the County Auditor of the County of San Diego prior to August 10, 2026. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 39580 through 39586 inclusive and the Vista Municipal Code Section 8.60.120, the County Auditor shall enter each assessment as set forth in the Report of Proceedings and Account of Costs, attached hereto, on the County Tax Roll opposite the parcel of land referred to. The amount of the assessment shall be collected at the same time and in the manner of ordinary municipal taxes; and if delinquent, the amount is subject to the same penalties and procedures of foreclosure and sale as provided for ordinary municipal taxes.
Adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Vista held on June 23, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WALTER CHUNG, CITY ATTORNEY
By:
APPROVED
Walter C. Chung
20260615100322
JOHN B. FRANKLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KATHY VALDEZ, CITY CLERK
By:
06/23/2026 PH3 4 of 7
CITY OF VISTA
FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026
REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNT OF COSTS
WEED ABATEMENT TAX LIENS
2025/26 ASSESSMENT
Charge plus
Administrative Fee APN Property Cleared Address Property Owner 4,060.00$ 159-161-21-00 N SANTA FE VIKING INDUSTRIES LLC 1,780.00$ 176-110-55-00 SHELSTEVE TER WINIKWORTH LLC 5,840.00$
06/23/2026 PH3 5 of 7
EXHIBIT 2
TOTAL OF WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM:5,840.00$
(Contractor charges and administrative fees)
PAID BY PROPERTY OWNERS -$
AMOUNT TO BE RECOVERED AS SPECIAL ASSESSMENT
THROUGH COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE 5,840.00$
PROCEEDINGS:
Number of parcels that were sent notices 1522
Number of parcels cleared by contractor 2
Number of parcels cleared by owners 1,520
CONTRACTOR CHARGES 3,960.00$
ADMINISTRATIVE FEES 1,880.00$
TOTAL 5,840.00$
COLLECTED THROUGH BILLING -$
AMOUNT TO BE RECOVERED THROUGH:
Special Assessment on SD County Property Tax Through
Collections 5,840.00$
TOTAL 5,840.00$
CITY OF VISTA
SUMMARY OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT - WEED ABATEMENT
AS OF 5/22/2026
06/23/2026 PH3 6 of 7
EXHIBIT 3
PRIOR ACTIONS
On June 9, 2026, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-103, declaring its intent to set a Public Hearing for collection of delinquent 2025 weed abatement charges; and set June 23, 2026, as the date of the public hearing to levy assessments on the 2026 property tax roll for collection of delinquent 2025 weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
On June 11, 2024, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-93, approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2023/24, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges (Vote: 5-0).
On May 28, 2024, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-68, declaring its intent to set a Public Hearing for collection of delinquent weed abatement charges; and set June 11, 2024, as the date of the public hearing to levy assessments on the 2024 property tax roll for collection of delinquent 2023 weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
On June 13, 2023, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-101, approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2022/23, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges (Vote: 5-0).
On May 23, 2023, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2023-79, declaring its intent to set a public hearing for collection of delinquent 2022 weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
On June 14, 2022, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2022-95, approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2021/22, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges (Vote: 5-0).
On May 24, 2022, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2022-72, declaring its intent to set a public hearing for collection of delinquent 2021 weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
On June 8, 2021, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2021-92, approving and confirming a report and account for abatement of weeds, shrubs, dead trees, and waste matter for Fiscal Year 2020/21, and ordering the assessment of unpaid charges (Vote: 5-0).
On May 25, 2021, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2021-74, declaring its intent to set a public hearing for collection of delinquent weed abatement charges (Vote: 5-0).
On February 21, 1967, adopted City Council Ordinance No. 67-5, declaring dry weeds, dead shrubs, dead trees, and certain waste matter to be a public nuisance and providing for the abatement and removal thereof (Vote: 5-0).
06/23/2026 PH3 7 of 7
EXHIBIT 4